The General Secretariat of the Arab Maghreb Union’s (AMU) Shura Council welcomed the announcement by Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh, for an immediate ceasefire and end to hostilities in Libya.
In a statement, the AMU called for achieving this endeavour to enhance the success of the peace process.
The General Secretariat praised the announcement by both al-Sarraj and Saleh, that they had reached an initial agreement for an immediate ceasefire to achieve the peace process in Libya.
In its statement, the AMU expressed its hope that this agreement would remove the spectre of civil war and its repercussions on the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Libya, and that it would be an effective incentive to clarify the features of the recent Libyan state away from any foreign interference.
AMU called on neighbouring countries and those of goodwill to support the declaration of a ceasefire to ensure the return of the unity of the Libyan state.
The GNA, which is based in the west of the country, announced on Friday morning a ceasefire across Libya. It also called for the demilitarisation of the contested strategic cities of Sirte and Al-Jufrah, which are controlled by the Libyan National Army.
In a separate statement, Ageela Saleh also called for a ceasefire. Both administrations also called for an end to the oil blockade imposed earlier this year. The Tripoli-based government also called for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in March.
In the same statement, Algeria welcomed the announcements of an immediate ceasefire throughout Libya and the activation of the political process through an inclusive dialogue to end the crisis in the country.
The declaration was also welcomed by many countries of the world, emphasizing the need for a political settlement for Libya, in a way that guarantees its unity and stability.
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rival governments with warring forces, namely the UN-backed GNA based in the capital Tripoli and the other in the north-eastern city of Tobruk allied with the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar and the eastern-based Parliament.